State Disability Employment Campaign Garners National Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2016

Contact: Dan Hoblick, Department of Human Services, 605-773-6463

State Disability Employment Campaign Garners National Award

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) has received a Telly Award for its “Ability for Hire” video campaign. The campaign video was created through EpicositySM, a Sioux Falls-based company that specializes in marketing and public relations. The Telly Awards honor the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.

“Ability for Hire” was born out of the Employment Works taskforce established by Gov. Dennis Daugaard in 2013. The campaign’s goal was to make South Dakota an “employment first” state that focused on increasing employment of people with disabilities.

Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Division Director Eric Weiss said, “The Ability for Hire campaign started as a way to reach out and offer support to those businesses who want to hire people with disabilities.” Weiss added, “Through our work on the campaign, we’ve heard inspiring messages from many businesses that have met their workforce needs by hiring people with disabilities.”

This is the third award DHS has received for the “Ability for Hire” campaign. In January, the department was honored with two MarCom Awards.

Ability for Hire is a campaign that is designed to deliver information, outreach and resources to businesses, job seekers and the public workforce system to ensure greater recruiting and hiring opportunities for job candidates with disabilities. For more information, visit AbilityForHire.com.

About DHS

The South Dakota Department of Human Services’ mission is to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities, in partnership with its stakeholders, through the programs and services offered by its divisions. Learn more by visiting the department’s website, dhs.sd.gov.